"We have a very good relationship with 500 miles. Working with them has been very helpful. They’ve given us a large discount. We pay only 40 percent for the cost of the prosthetics and orthotics. Before that, we sent kids to the public orthopedic center, but the relationship was not that good and then they ran out of supplies. With 500 miles, they are helping us a lot. We send about five or six patients per week depending on the conditions and the urgency.”
– Bessie, Physiotherapist, CURE Malawi
After orthopedic surgery, some of the children at CURE need prosthetics and orthotics. It’s very important for our post-clubfoot and cerebral palsy patients to have ankle-foot-orthotics (AFOs) so that their condition doesn't reoccur. CURE Malawi doesn’t have the facilities for making orthotics and prosthetics, but we partner with awesome organizations, like the Scottish charity 500 miles, to get our kids the equipment they need to continue to walk well.
Olivia Giles, the founder of 500 miles, says, “500 miles is delighted to be working with CURE! CURE refers some patients to us from its clinics in the central region of Malawi, and we work alongside CURE in regular multidisciplinary outreach clinics organized by MACOHA (Malawi Counsel for the Handicapped) across the central region and sometimes in the north, but because we do not have a center in the southern region, it is really wonderful that CURE can refer children from the southern region to us.
"We are thankful to CURE for providing the transport from the southern region to our center in Lilongwe for patients and their guardians and for providing the follow up care. We are also extremely grateful that CURE pays 40% of the device costs, because that meaningful contribution is what helps to make our service sustainable and to guarantee its continuance for the benefit of future generations.”
500 miles is based in Lilongwe at the central hospital, which is almost five hours away CURE Malawi in Blantyre. The organization also has a facility further north at Mzuzu Central Hospital, where we also refer patients sometimes. We got a chance to visit the Lilongwe branch one day when six of our former CURE patients had come in for orthotics and prosthetics.
Peter from 500 miles fits a cast on Chisomo to make a model of his foot to fit a plastic AFO. Chisomo was really grouchy, thinking he was going to be a cast again for another six weeks. We reassured him that it was coming right off.
A rubber tube is put beneath the cast so they can cut it off safely.
The casts are used to make plaster replicas of the feet, which are used to shape the AFO correctly to the child’s foot.
Mixing more plaster to adjust the shape. The casts are then fired in the kiln.
Calista had bilateral amputations at CURE when she was a toddler. Now, she comes to 500 miles anytime she needs new artificial legs. It’s about time for an upgrade! She’s getting taller and is thrilled.
Peter works on finishing up Calista’s prosthetic leg.
Fitting one of the prosthetics to check it.
Ultimately, one of the legs needed a few small adjustments. After they finished, Calista was kicking the ball around.
Faith had neglected clubfoot and was at CURE for a very long time with a frame to slowly manipulate her foot straight. We were so happy to see our good pal again when visiting Lilongwe! Faith came to 500 miles to get casted a new, smaller insole AFO, which will help her walk better than her current long one.
Mwayi marks the plastic where he needs to shave off the extra length on Faith’s new AFO.
Putting the finishing touches on Faith’s AFO.
Faith, do you think it’s the right fit?
Faith loves to pose with everyone, including Mwayi, who made her new AFO!
We’re so thankful to partner with organizations like 500 miles to help kids like Chisomo, Calista, and Faith walk with confidence!
© 2026 CURE International
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